MPs criticise plans to fund food agency

01 April 1999

MPs criticise plans to fund food agency

MPs have condemned plans by the government to fund the new Food Standards Agency by taxing half a million food retailers.

Agriculture Minister Nick Brown outlined in January the governments plans to raise a £90 a year flat-rate levy on all premises selling food.

But the MPs say in a report that the flat-rate levy is “contrary to natural justice” and have urged the government to implement a graduated system.

• Supermarkets to pay bigger levy?, FWi, 30 March, 1999
• Government retreats from £90 food levy, FWi, 29 March, 1999
• Blair to backtrack on food agency funding? FWi, 04 February, 1999
• Retailers to pay for Food Standards Agency, FWi, 27 January, 1999
  

• The Daily Telegraph 01/04/99 page 18
• The Herald 01/04/99 page 10